Hi all, my wife is good friends with a well known real estate agent and was telling her how I was considering buying a tractor. The real estate friend said she had alot of mowing work for me next year if I was interested. Most of the work is grown over farm fields that are divided and sold. I have the tow vehicle but would need the trailer as well as insurance. My original plan was to buy a 3520 open station and an mx5 cutter for my 4 acres I have her at home. If I do part time cutting I think I would be further ahead with a 4000 series cab and an mx6 cutter. What do you guys think? I know its a loaded question !! Mike
Mowing Possible Part Time Mowing Buisness
- Thread starter Dirtboy
- Start date
- Views: 1719
Erik_in_Hoyt
Platinum Member
questions: can you afford the larger pieces if they don't follow through with the mowing jobs?
how much are they willing to pay - and will it be worth the extra paperwork and income taxes?
If the answer to both of these is yes, then you have a wonderful excuse to buy a bigger tractor - and like many folks on TBN will say, there's no such thing as too big, but there's definitely such a thing as not big enough.
how much are they willing to pay - and will it be worth the extra paperwork and income taxes?
If the answer to both of these is yes, then you have a wonderful excuse to buy a bigger tractor - and like many folks on TBN will say, there's no such thing as too big, but there's definitely such a thing as not big enough.
Dirtboy said:
I'd sit with the agent and get a good understanding of the size of the lots that need cutting. A 6' may not be big enough. If you go into it, maybe think about getting an even larger used tractor and maybe a used batwing. You will have all winter to find and touch up any used thing you buy.
Jumping in with all new equipment can stretch you thin in no time at all.
jb
Farmwithjunk
Super Member
I own a mowing business. If you intend on making it a LEGITIMATE business, with insurance, a tax #, business liciense (if aplicable), legal commercially licensed truck and trailer, and all the rest that goes with a REAL business, those part time jobs better pay good. By the time every element is addressed, your overhead will make the cost of the tractor and mower look paultry by comparison.
Cash under the table jobs? Are you willing to risk everything you own?
Promise of work is NOT contracted, guaranteed work. As I like to say, until it's in the boat, it's just a fish story.
Cash under the table jobs? Are you willing to risk everything you own?
Promise of work is NOT contracted, guaranteed work. As I like to say, until it's in the boat, it's just a fish story.
JoeinTX
Platinum Member
Farmwith' is making good points here.
There are many unseen and unconsidered possibilities here.
As suggested above, get with the realtor and see how "serious" the offer is. Before any commitments or investments you need something more (contract or even a retaining fee) from him/her to justify moving forward.
If you go cutting someone else's property you will need business insurance to cover unforeseen damages. Hit a junction box or water meter or throw a chunk of conrete through someone's window, etc. While working a lot that pays you $600 to cut, you whammy a $3000 piece of public utility equipment or put a dent in the neighbor's Escalade with a piece of thrown debris.
I, several years ago, got into a little custom cutting and got the biz ID and biz insurance and did a few jobs before my primary job changed and ended all that. I am again now able to pick it back up, but, haven't done so.
-Getting the bid for a job doesn't mean getting paid for the job. I don't mean just private, dead-beat owners........it can be realty companies or businesses or whoever.
-Every job requires a good walk-through, regardless of what the customer says, to determine dangers while cutting.
-Don't be afraid when pricing to ask for what it will cost to do and make you some money. If they want to low-ball and play the price leave it alone. It does you no good to lose money on a job. I know, I know.....you get the word of mouth and all. If the referals you get expect the same price which isn't making you any money then they aren't worth the time.
Get an agreement, get insurance, price to make it worth your while, and be careful.
Yeah, it's crappy situation when you can't just cut a pasture and get paid and be done with it and move on with life. Some instances won't let that happen......
There are many unseen and unconsidered possibilities here.
As suggested above, get with the realtor and see how "serious" the offer is. Before any commitments or investments you need something more (contract or even a retaining fee) from him/her to justify moving forward.
If you go cutting someone else's property you will need business insurance to cover unforeseen damages. Hit a junction box or water meter or throw a chunk of conrete through someone's window, etc. While working a lot that pays you $600 to cut, you whammy a $3000 piece of public utility equipment or put a dent in the neighbor's Escalade with a piece of thrown debris.
I, several years ago, got into a little custom cutting and got the biz ID and biz insurance and did a few jobs before my primary job changed and ended all that. I am again now able to pick it back up, but, haven't done so.
-Getting the bid for a job doesn't mean getting paid for the job. I don't mean just private, dead-beat owners........it can be realty companies or businesses or whoever.
-Every job requires a good walk-through, regardless of what the customer says, to determine dangers while cutting.
-Don't be afraid when pricing to ask for what it will cost to do and make you some money. If they want to low-ball and play the price leave it alone. It does you no good to lose money on a job. I know, I know.....you get the word of mouth and all. If the referals you get expect the same price which isn't making you any money then they aren't worth the time.
Get an agreement, get insurance, price to make it worth your while, and be careful.
Yeah, it's crappy situation when you can't just cut a pasture and get paid and be done with it and move on with life. Some instances won't let that happen......
Thanks for the good advice. I talked to my wifes friend in more depth about this deal. She assured me the work would be there and I could use my own timeline to get the jobs done. I do have a full time job, so I dont want to get over wrapped in this part time thing.My wife and I are talking to the neighbor who wants to sell 10acres of open field that joins our property. The price of the cab 4000 series are high, but I only want to buy it one time. Oh well more head banging. Mike
You might be better going with a slightly older bigger tractor.
If you got something of about 50 HP and an 8' or 9' cutter you should be better off finacially as you will have passed the big depreciaion from buying new.
You will also be bale to cut much faster which would help with having another job too.
A bigger tractor with a cab will also make you feel a lot less tired by the end of the day as you will have less bouncing and bumping around.
Whatever you get, you want to make sure you get a heavy duty cutter if you will be using it for working on unknown property. It is amazing what you will find.
If you got something of about 50 HP and an 8' or 9' cutter you should be better off finacially as you will have passed the big depreciaion from buying new.
You will also be bale to cut much faster which would help with having another job too.
A bigger tractor with a cab will also make you feel a lot less tired by the end of the day as you will have less bouncing and bumping around.
Whatever you get, you want to make sure you get a heavy duty cutter if you will be using it for working on unknown property. It is amazing what you will find.
Watch out for those real estate agents, they all go to the same con artist school. One of their favorite ploys is to say to you that they need a dependable, low priced service to take care of their model home(s), and if you do that well, they may have a shopping center or strip mall that will come up for a contract bid soon, and they will put in a good word for you, if you kiss their * on the model home(s). Meanwhile, they are telling some other poor SOB the same thing, only they get the strip mall, with the prospect of doing the model home(s). Always price your work based on a reasonable profit for the hours provided, never on the prospect of getting more work. Bid every job as if it doesn't matter whether you get it or not
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
diyDave said:Watch out for those real estate agents, they all go to the same con artist school. One of their favorite ploys is to say to you that they need a dependable, low priced service to take care of their model home(s), and if you do that well, they may have a shopping center or strip mall that will come up for a contract bid soon, and they will put in a good word for you, if you kiss their * on the model home(s). Meanwhile, they are telling some other poor SOB the same thing, only they get the strip mall, with the prospect of doing the model home(s). Always price your work based on a reasonable profit for the hours provided, never on the prospect of getting more work. Bid every job as if it doesn't matter whether you get it or not
Yep...get it in writing...
